Correct Information About 315 Apartments

Some voters are confused by comments that if Measure L is rejected the developer might resubmit the original 315 apartments application that was suspended on 1/13/14. Instead of being distracted by this vague threat, voters should evaluate the Homes project on the merits of its traffic impacts, view impacts, and $3M of city money for a children’s play area and sport field on a major traffic corridor with air quality issues. The city has the legal authority to deny that project as detailed below.

The apts application was never approved. It was suspended in 2014 when the city certified the apts EIR with 13 significant unavoidable environmental impacts including 5 public health and safety impacts. The California housing accountability act, government code (“govt. Code”) 65589.5(d)(2) authorizes denial of apartments for adverse impacts on public health and safety.

The controlling general plan designation for the property became low density single family residential 2 units/acre (“LDSFR”) on 8/10/15, which does not allow apts. If resubmitted, the apts application would require a general plan amendment, which is a legislative act under govt. Code 65301.5 and subject to another voter referendum.

The developer argues there is administrative professional office zoning (APO) on the property from before 2015, but this is temporary and unenforceable. Per govt. Code 65860(c). The zoning is subordinate to the LDSFR general plan designation. The city council is already making plans to amend the APO zoning to low density residential if measure L is rejected by the voters.

A 2014 tolling agreement and processing agreement would not allow the city to disregard state law and the strict deadlines of the permit streamlining act which expired on the apts application in 2014.

Approval of Measure L will establish precedents on traffic impacts and hillside development that will adversely affect the city’s residents on future land use applications.

The city breached a mandatory duty to voters and improperly interfered with the referendum process.

Future outcomes in litigation cannot be predicted with absolute certainty. All that can be done is to make an evaluation of legal issues based on the strengths and weaknesses of the various arguments. In the case of Measure L, the arguments being put forward about apartments are weak. Voters should decide how to cast their vote based on the merits of the Homes project and not be misled.